CAROLINE Cleary had recently moved to Cork from Wexford to begin a new life.

The 29-year-old motorsports enthusiast, whose life was tragically cut short yesterday, was herself a talented rally car navigator.

She died while watching a rally in which her partner Sean Hayde was a competitor.

The couple were expecting their first child together.

Ms Cleary has been involved in motor sports for about 12 years.

Gary Nolan, of Wexford Motor Club, described her as an "extremely happy and bubbly woman who was very passionate about motorsports".

"She was always smiling. She had such a bubbly personality, a very chirpy persona. Her family in Wexford are deeply shocked by this tragedy," he said.

"Caroline was a navigator and competed in motor sports herself and was very talented. She and her partner were at the event together. They both knew of how dangerous the sport can be at times as they were involved in it themselves, but nobody expects these things to happen."

Tributes poured out on Caroline's Facebook page, with one friend saying: "It's another sad day for the motorsport community. Caroline always had a smile and a kind word for everyone, she will be missed in the club."